Atlanta Hawks: Larry Drew is the choice for coach
Hawks pick Drew to be next coach.
The Hawks have decided to hire Larry Drew as their next head coach, people with knowledge of the decision said today.
Drew was Atlanta’s lead assistant for six years under Mike Woodson, who was let go last month. Drew and the team are working out the details of a contract this evening and the official announcement of his hiring is expected on Saturday.
Drew, 52, emerged from a group of finalists that also included Avery Johnson, Dwane Casey and Mark Jackson. Once Johnson agreed to coach the Nets early in the week, that left Atlanta’s ownership group and GM Rick Sund to choose from among the other three candidates.
This will be Drew’s first head-coaching job after he’s been an NBA assistant for the the last 14 seasons. He worked for the Lakers, Wizards, Pistons and Nets before joining Woodson’s staff for the 2004-05 season. Drew played 714 games over 10 NBA seasons from 1980-91.
“He’s very experienced, just being around the game,” Hawks guard Jamal Crawford said. “He’s very knowledgeable. I think he is prepared for a lot of different situations.”
When Sund decided not to retain Woodson, he said the team needed “another voice” after the team lost in the second round of the playoffs the last two years. The Hawks apparently decided Drew will have a leadership style distinct from Woodson while also having the advantage of established relationships with players and familiarity with the team’s issues.
“He knows the faults of our teams,” Crawford said. “It’s not like we are a bad team. Now we can continue to build; we don’t have to start over.”
Drew inherits a team that won 53 games next season and, among its core players, has all but Joe Johnson under contract for next season. But he will face some challenges as the Hawks look to break through after getting swept in the second round of the playoffs in consecutive years.
Drew is popular among players but now his role changes from sometimes-confidant to the person in charge of their playing time and involvement in the offense. He also will have to reprimand players for their mistakes while trying to maintain relationships and team chemistry.
“Everything is going to be a first for him,” Crawford said. “But I think it will be a little bit easier transition because he knows our team. He doesn’t have to come in and learn the different personalities, what makes people tick and how to motivate them.”
When the Hawks let Woodson go, among the concerns expressed by players and management was what they considered Woodson’s differing levels of accountability. They said Woodson didn’t rebuke certain players as often as he did others, leading to some resentment in the locker room.
The Hawks also want to move away from an isolation-heavy offensive approach that was influenced by guard Joe Johnson’s playing style. Johnson is eligible to become a free agent next month, and the Hawks still want to re-sign him.
A person with knowledge of Johnson’s plans said he’s still open to returning. But the person said the new coach would have to sell Johnson on relying more on his teammates in the offense and ensure him that locker-room chemistry would improve.
MC
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552 comments Add your comment
lewis
June 13th, 2010
10:36 am
I’m excited about Drew’s plans for the offense.
But what about his defense?
drmaryb
June 13th, 2010
10:46 am
Lewis
The major complaint all year long was Offense – hello?
The defense was gimmicky! Why not just man up, like the rest of the NBA. Defense is only played when motivated and comitted to… That’s a HEART & MOTOR issue! That is a given!
Offense is more strategy, schemes, coaching, game plan adjustments and intensity level!
That’s on the PLAYERS! If they don’t defend? Glue their azzes to the bench & that will get their attention moreso than anything else.
In your question – that should be put to the Players moreso than coaching! At what point are the Players responsible and accountable for anything? After all – isn’t this a players league?
That should actually be learned in college – what exactly is college sports for? Certainly not a formal education.
drmaryb
June 13th, 2010
10:51 am
Lewis
Aaahh ….. The Cavs had the Hawks beat on Offense, Not necessarily on Defense.
But, then like Blue-Ray said, they have the best player allegedly in the world and All Star PG and 2 7 footers.mmGeez, man! Pull your head out of your anal spinchter. I thought you were better than this?
terrell
June 13th, 2010
10:53 am
Bench Bibby and find a replacement for Marvin as the starting sf, and I’ll be the biggest Drew fan in Atlanta. Everybody and their Mama knows that those two bums shouldn’t be starters. D-League maybe. But in the NBA? Please!
terrell
June 13th, 2010
11:02 am
Did you guys see how Larry Drew was looking at Woody in that pic? Looked like he was saying, “what in the hell are you talking about? Fool! lol!
terrell
June 13th, 2010
11:03 am
Thanks Vava, I got a laugh out of that photo.
terrell
June 13th, 2010
11:08 am
Hopefully we’ll stop swithing on defense all the time too.
drmaryb
June 13th, 2010
11:08 am
Bibby
I have never seen Bibby sucking sour grapes for being benched. That’s a Coaches decision! And, part of Woodsons dagger, but in all fairness … Mike did set the Tempo with his Shooting to start games.
Given, that Teague has no Jumper? That probably had more to do with the SMOY relieving Bibby moreso than anything else. Give Woodson credit for using smoke & mirrors. He was forced to do that ever since he came here. You can’t cook a steak if all you got is ground beef!
Moving on, JT0 will get his crack at it next season.
tree rollins
June 13th, 2010
11:14 am
Drew seems like a nice guy. So did Lon Kruger and Bobby Weiss back in the day when we got them. I’m glad the Hawks owners are spending money on a nice guy – the players are too! It’s the old “I searched the world over for my next wife and found her in my own upstairs bedroom”. It may sound corny to you but that’s your Atlanta Hawks folks! This team needs to create a local buzz like nobody’s business. Instead, they hired the janitor and chief bottle washer. Good luck Hawks – you’ll need it. But remember – at least you saved a few bucks and we’ll all be able to get cheap seats this year when the Lakers come in.
bigdave
June 13th, 2010
11:19 am
Report: Wade talks with Bosh, Johnson
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ESPN.com news services
Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade has spent some time talking to fellow free agents about the future, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported on Saturday.
Wade, who made an appearance at a charity event in Plantation, Fla., said he talked with Toronto Raptors forward Chris Bosh and Atlanta Hawks guard Joe Johnson in Los Angeles this week.
Wade told the newspaper he had dinner with Bosh and saw Johnson at a Brand Jordan event.
Wade has made it clear he would like to return to Miami and bring another big-name free agent with him. But he insisted to the newspaper: “I haven’t started recruiting yet.”
“My friends are the guys that are in the league,” Wade told the Sun-Sentinel. “Some of my closest friends in the NBA happen to be certain guys that are up in this free-agent market. Yeah, it’s going to be like that. Like I said, I don’t worry about it. I smile and I keep on going with my day.
“Me and Chris have been friends since we came into the NBA. We signed with the same agent. So we can’t eat together? It’s all good. We understand what’s going to come about from anything that goes on. But, no worries, it’s just friends eating dinner.”
The free agency period begins July 1. Wade, Bosh, Johnson, LeBron James and Amare Stoudemire are among players who could be changing teams.
Ken Strickland
June 13th, 2010
11:29 am
THE TRUTH/DRMARYB-Thanks for the support. While I’m not a religious person, I’m very spiritual and I definitely believe in something greater than myself and all that we know. I feel it would be an insult to all of the fans in the Hawks nation that have wished me well not to give it all that I have to overcome it.
TRUTH SERUM-I see why you’re so attached to MWoodson. You seem to possess the same limited way of thinking, stubbornness, and inability to see anything beyond your preconceived bias’, opinions and notions. As a result, you can’t seem to change, adjust or process anything new or different, just like your beloved Woodson. Like him, you are too stubborn, biased and/or stupid too see that Bibby was a complete DEF liability, and had rapidly become an OFF liability. You can’t seem to see how anything or anyone but your beloved Woodson can possibly do more to improve the Hawks.
If we do more of what we do best, and that’s RUN, improve ball and player movement, improve defensively, bench Bibby, add the speed, quickness, penetrating ability and DEF of JTeague, improve Marvins production, get better and more consistent bench production, HOW IN THE HELL CAN YOU NOT SEE HOW THIS TEAM CAN IMPROVE?
ALSO, WHAT IS IT ABOUT WOODSON THAT BLINDS YOU TO THE FACT THAT HE WOULDN’T/COULDN’T/DIDN’T DO ANY OF THESE THINGS?
1-EDampier
2-ABargnani
3-JAnthony
4-JOneal
5-HThabeet
6-JMcGhee
7-RHibbert
8-GOden
9-SDelembert
10-TRatliff
11-BWallace
12-RTuriaf
This is a partial list of NBA centers that averaged more Blocks Per Gm than AHorford. Out of all the centers on this list, not a single one of them had more ASSISTS, REBOUNDS, STEALS or DOUBLE DOUBLES, and only ABarngnani outscored him. I’D LIKE TO KNOW WHO ON THIS LIST WOULD YOU TAKE OVER HORFORD?
Among all NBA PG’s, MBibby’s 9.1PPG ranked 35th, his 3.9APG ranked 35th and his .84SPG ranked 36th. He is the only starting PG, besides DFisher, that didn’t record a single double double. ARE YOU TELLING ME THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING YOU CAN THINK OF THAT NEW HC LARRY DREW CAN DO, ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT YOUR BELOVED WOODY DID, TO IMPROVE UPON THAT PITIFUL PG PRODUCTION?
The Hawks ranked 12th(tied)in PPG(101.7), 9th(tied)in PPG allowed(97.0), 17th in RPG(41 total, OFF-11.8, DEF-29.9) and 11th(tied)in APG (21.8). ARE YOU TOO BLINDED BY YOUR OWN BIAS AND OBSESSION WITH WOODSON TOO SEE ANYWAY NEW HC LARRY DREW CAN IMPROVE UPON THESE NUMBERS? You’re saying you can’t for the life of you figure out how our DEF will improve if new HC Larry Drew replaced the teams biggest DEF liability? Or, how the team can possibly add speed, quickness, the ability to penetrate and maintain an uptempo OFF, by replacing the NBA’s slowest, least athletic and least productive starting PG with one of the NBA’s quickest, fastest and most athletic?
Please don’t tell everyone you’re too blinded by your stubborn bias’, and unnatural attachment to Woodson, to see how our new HC Larry Drew can improve our DEF even further, by allowing our C’s and PF’s to play other C’s and PF’s, which would allow them to remain near the lane and protect the basket. How can anyone with an actual IQ think Woodson’s idea of forcing them out on the perimeter to defend PG’s and SG’s is a better idea?
IT APPEARS THAT FROM AN PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE, YOU AND YOUR BELOVED WOODSON ARE JOINED AT THE HIP, EXCEPT HE GOT FIRED BECAUSE OF HIS PSYCHOLOGICAL FLAWS.
terrell
June 13th, 2010
11:31 am
Mary B, when I said bench Bibby, I was talking about next year, not this past season. If Bibby and Marvin are still starters, I’m going to be pissed. That’s all I’m saying. Drew better not be as blind as Woody was.
lewis
June 13th, 2010
11:35 am
dmb,
“Defense is only played when motivated and comitted to… That’s a HEART & MOTOR issue! That is a given!”
Isn’t that the same garbage that ol stubborn man Woody was preaching when his switching defense got brutally torn apart and tossed into a dumpster vs. Mil and Orl? The same line he recited over and over while refusing to make adjustments?
I understand that defense is really on the players, but it doesn’t change the fact that a new defensive system needs to be put in place by the new HC. While it will help a lot, starting Teague isn’t going automatically fix the Hawks defensive issues.
I don’t know if the Hawks have enough shooters to run a west coast offense. I can’t imagine them in a similar situation Phx was in against LA, opting to attempt to out-score, rather than out-defend the lakers.
terrell
June 13th, 2010
11:36 am
Ken, I agree with everything you said except “improve Marvin’s production”. Larry Drew is a Coach, not a miracle worker. lol!
terrell
June 13th, 2010
11:38 am
I agree Lewis. Gotta have shooters to do that.
J. Lawyer
June 13th, 2010
12:23 pm
I’m not sure if this was the right move, Joe Johnson will not return next year and we will fall out of the top 4 in the east. I hope ASG can sell the team, because they refuse to pay to win. How much can Drew ask for. Terrible move.
jhan
June 13th, 2010
12:25 pm
Drew needs to implement a real offense for next season. It was very easy to defend Iso-Joe in the playoffs. I want to believe that Drew will be a fan of ball movement. Can’t imagine an old PG being happy with watching one guy dribble for 20 seconds then throw up a prayer or pass to our PF in the corner for a 23′ jump shot.
terrell
June 13th, 2010
12:32 pm
Drew comes cheap. Might help out in FA. Just a thought.
terrell
June 13th, 2010
12:34 pm
Lowest paid coach in the league.
drmaryb
June 13th, 2010
12:41 pm
Lewis
I agree the switching defense was not something to do as a staple. I believe my exact words were:
Woodson’s defense was gimmicky & that we should man up severe intensity!
Of course that part was edited out for the sake of argument. However, I love your assessments of what the teams need to do & we pretty much are on the same page – you & I.
I woke up looking to see if you had posted anything. -smiles-
Grandad
June 13th, 2010
12:49 pm
‘Hatter’
I’m tryin’ to stay away for awile but you keep draggin’ me back in.
As a favor just TRY to see Al as one if not our best young player.
Our cornerstone & foundation, for reasons of intangible nature,
moreso than his skill set which are outstanding in themselves.
It’s okay if you feel we need a [5], I do as well. It’s just that
I see a player coming in as a sidekick or in rotation with J&A.
Heck our 6th man could even be a center. OR we could have two
6th men. Just open your mind to the possibilities.
No need to respond as I’m leavin’ for awile so as not to get drawn
back in to the discussions. G’day all.
terrell
June 13th, 2010
12:50 pm
Truth, how in the world can you bring up the center position, without mentioning one single word about our horrendous pg play? Defensively, and dang near offensively. Wow! If you think the Hawks success starts with a new center, your’re delusional. And did I mention the sf position? Listen, until we trade Josh Smith, Horford’s the center. It’s that simple.
terrell
June 13th, 2010
12:53 pm
LMAO at Dr. Mary B waking up to check the blog. lol!
Tmruth-Seru
June 13th, 2010
1:13 pm
Grandad, good moring… well afternoon. Yes, I can agree that horford is a good player and a draft pick that is productive. Yes, I think his was left of the All NBA defensive team, for a good reason. DEFENSE!
Yes I think that the beginning of taking the hawks to the next level begins with acquiring a starting center…. and yes, Horford is a good power forward… just not as good as josh.
do I think we are weak at the point guard position also? Terrell, Yes, However Turnover teague had good exposure last year and plenty of time to study some great guard play from JJ and crawford and bibby who has a excellent turnover rate. He may be ready next year… after all he was draft as a sophomore from wake. Point Guards are more common than centers.
Now, terrell I hope you did not receive my blogr in the same nastiness that you sent mine. I dont believe weve spoken before.
Now have a nice day!
Tmruth-Serum
June 13th, 2010
1:13 pm
*he was left
Tmruth-Serum
June 13th, 2010
1:16 pm
yes Al would be an excellent 6th man backing up josh and the new center
Will the Thrill
June 13th, 2010
1:32 pm
Ken Strickland… You make no sense, bro! Though we were beat back to back years in the second round, Mike Woodson was a proven commodity. And if not Mike, Avery Johnson would have been an OK choice. But, a newby? come on, man. I hope that LD can take the team to the finals because if not, I give up on the Hawks. The Hawks are like a soap opera and not for the dramatics. Soap operas build you up for years, as if they are coming to an end and then… it keeps going but the writting gets worse. Why aren’t the Hawks committed to success? What they are committed to is our money. They are totally invested in taking our money and giving us a shabby product. Woodson actually gave us a better product and he was fired. You don’t fire a good coach for a greenhorn because he goes to the playoffs three years in a row! unless they are sure that LD is the truth. SO, with that said… I GIVE LD 1 YEAR to go to the finals. That’s my expectation. If not, I will waste no more money on the Hawks.
lewis
June 13th, 2010
1:35 pm
Al is “solid” at center. I just think that teams who win championships do so, for the most part, with traditional PF’s and C’s. Not undersized help defenders. That said, Horford is our center unless Josh leaves.
some big men duo’s on championship teams since 1990 (very bored at work):
1989-1990 Chicago Bulls – Bill Cartwright C 7-1 245. Horace Grant F-C 6-10 215
1993-1994 Houston Rockets – Hakeem Olajuwon C 6-11 250 Otis Thorpe PF 6-10 248
Robert Horry F – 6-10 230
1995-1996 Chicago Bulls – Luc Longley C 7-2 Bill Wennington C 7-0 245
Dennis Rodman F 6-7 210 (16 rebounds a game that year)
1998-1999 San Antonion Spurs – Tim Duncan PF 7-0 260 David Robinson C 7-1 250
1999-2000 LA Lakers – Shaq C 7-1 325 A.C. Green F-C 6-9 220 Glen Rice F 6-7 215
lewis
June 13th, 2010
1:37 pm
and until Josh proves he’s mentally capable of winning a championship, i’m going to stick with Al Horford as the guy to build around.
Cage
June 13th, 2010
1:41 pm
TYPICAL HAWKS FANS RESPONSES……….EVEN IF THE ASG HIRED PHIL JACKSON PEOPLE WOULD STILL COMPLAIN ABOUT SOMETHING, “HE’S TOO OLD”, “HE DOESN’T HAVE THE TOP MARQUEE PLAYER”, ETC, JUST GIVE THE MAN A CHANCE TO EARN AN OPINION AFTER A COUPLE OF YEARS
Cage
June 13th, 2010
1:42 pm
FOOD FOR THOUGHT, WHAT ABOUT JOSH COMING IF THE BENCH IF WE CAN LAND A DECENT BIG
Big Ray
June 13th, 2010
1:48 pm
1-EDampier
2-ABargnani
3-JAnthony
4-JOneal
5-HThabeet
6-JMcGhee
7-RHibbert
8-GOden
9-SDelembert
10-TRatliff
11-BWallace
12-RTuriaf
Yep, definitely a list of guys who average more blocks per game than Al Horford.
Guess what else the list represents? A bunch of guys who didn’t make the all star team or have better season averages than this: 14 points, 9.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 55% shooting from the field.
Big Ray
June 13th, 2010
1:51 pm
Al Horford as a sixth man on an NBA team. Damn, I haven’t laughed this hard all weekend..
lewis
June 13th, 2010
2:06 pm
I think Josh’s main problem is his jump shooting and his lack of size.
If he could hit 5-8 foot jumpers in the post, he’d be much more difficult to defend.
If he could hit a 3 pointer, he’d stretch the defense and open up shooting lanes.
He doesn’t have the post moves to score at will in the paint.
He doesn’t have the handles to play ISO.
He doesn’t have the size to shoot over people.
His biggest threats are on the break, blocking shots, getting steals, and making good passes. He’s an impact player who should be coming off the bench for big minutes but I don’t think his ego will ever allow it.
Basically, we need a proven Lamar Odom / Rasheed Wallace type who can come off the bench and provide quality minutes, doing the things that Josh and Al struggle to do with their size and limited range.
Big Ray
June 13th, 2010
2:09 pm
Nah, you can’t build around Josh. He’s not that type of player. Neither was Shawn Marion or Andrei Kirilenko, the kinds of guys who are closest to him in skill set/capabilities.
Big Ray
June 13th, 2010
2:12 pm
lewis ,
It’s a nice thought in a perfect world, but unfortunately we can’t just up and pick ourselves out a traditional center to put next to Al Horford. If we could, Josh might be okay coming off the bench for 30+ mpg, I don’t know. But as you said, we would still need him to have a better jumper (I’m thinking out to 15-17 feet, like Al has) and a better handle.
lewis
June 13th, 2010
2:23 pm
Yeah, i was talking hypothetically.
I’m fully prepared for Josh and Al to remain where they are. I just feel at this point, 6 years into it, Josh is still developing the things Al can already do. Now, if Josh improves his handles and post game / getting fouled, as well as his free throws, he’s going to be average 19/7/2/2 and a force to be reckoned with inside.
Truth-Serum
June 13th, 2010
3:17 pm
Big Ray
June 13th, 2010
1:51 pm
Al Horford as a sixth man on an NBA team. Damn, I haven’t laughed this hard all weekend..
YOU MUST HAVE MISSED THE DREW AS HEAD COACH ANNOUNCEMENT! IM STILL LMAO!
terrell
June 13th, 2010
3:23 pm
Josh wouldn’t mind coming off the bench? I totally disagree. He’d pout for months. And the Asg aint paying 20+ million for a 6th(Josh) and 7th(Jamal) man. And one more thing, what above avg center can we get for the mid-level? Especially one that’s good enough to put Josh Smith on the bench.
Truth-Serum
June 13th, 2010
3:24 pm
JOSH IS THE TEAM POWER FORWARD ANDTHE DEFENSELESS ONE IS THE CENTER
THE NBA AGREES. BY THE WAY TO BE CORRECT THE NBA LIST DUNCAN AS A CENTER AND HORFORD AS A POOT BUTT.
Player, Team 1st 2nd Points
Center Dwight Howard, Orlando 28 1 57
Guard Rajon Rondo, Boston 23 4 50
Forward LeBron James, Cleveland 20 5 45
Guard Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers 13 8 34
Forward Gerald Wallace, Charlotte 11 8 30
Second Team
Position Player, Team 1st 2nd Points
Center Tim Duncan, San Antonio 8 5 21
Guard Dwyane Wade, Miami 8 4 20
Forward Josh Smith, Atlanta 6 8 20
Forward Anderson Varejao, Cleveland 2 11 15
Guard Thabo Sefolosha, Oklahoma City 3 8 14
Truth-Serum
June 13th, 2010
3:42 pm
Big Ray
June 13th, 2010
10:05 am
Sautee , / azzohola
Yep. The NBA coaches vote the reserves in. Al Horford was voted in by the NBA coaches, who respect his game big time. But I thought everybody knew that…You don’t get to the NBA all-star game by being horrible on defense while playing out of position. I thought everybody knew that as well…
Sautee
June 13th, 2010
9:38 am
Truth-serum,
Since you don’t seem able to understand, I’ll try again. The “voting” that I referred to (and that the article in Shaq’s team’s town – Cleveland referred to) was the COACHES vote. by the fans. You keep posting the FAN vote like that matters. The COACHES are the ones who vote ALL the reserves on the All-Star team.
Sautee you have been talking out the side of your neck so long there is slobber on your shoulders. You and ray say al must be good defensively regardless of the numbers because the NBA coaches pick him as a reserve all star. … Those same NBA coaches refused to put him on the All nba defensive team because he is so sorry defensively, in fact he only received 1 lousy vote from all the coaches and guess who vote that was…..The dearly departed Woodson. Every other coach saw no reason to vote for his sorry assse.
LATEST HEADLINES – NBA NEWS
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Orlando’s Howard, Boston’s Rondo lead All-Defensive Team
By Official release
Posted May 5 2010 2:24PM
Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard, winner of the 2009-10 Defensive Player of the Year Award presented by Kia Motors, and guard Rajon Rondo of the Boston Celtics headline the NBA All-Defensive First Team, the NBA announced Wednesday. By totaling 57 points overall, including 28 First Team votes, Howard edged Rondo (50 points overall and 23 First Team votes) as the leading vote-getter.
Also selected to the All-Defensive First Team are forward LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers (45 points), Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (34 points) and Charlotte Bobcats forward Gerald Wallace (30 points).
Howard became the first player to lead the league in rebounding and blocks (1973-74 was the first season blocks were kept as an official statistic) in consecutive seasons, averaging 13.2 rebounds and 2.78 blocks. He also became only the fifth player in NBA history to lead the league in rebounding for at least three consecutive seasons. With Howard anchoring the defense, the Magic allowed 95.3 points a game, which ranked fourth in the NBA, and held the opposition to a league-low .438 shooting, including 24 games in which opponents shot under .400. Orlando held the opposition to fewer than 100 points 57 times and to fewer than 90 points 24 times.
The NBA All-Defensive Second Team consists of center Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs, guards Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat and Thabo Sefolosha of the Oklahoma City Thunder, and forwards Josh Smith of the Atlanta Hawks and Anderson Varejao of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Duncan has been selected to the NBA All-Defensive team 13 consecutive seasons.
The voting panel consisted of the NBA’s 30 head coaches, who were asked to select NBA All-Defensive First and Second Teams by position. Coaches were not permitted to vote for players from their own team. Two points were awarded for a First Team vote and one point was awarded for a Second Team vote.
2009-10 NBA All-Defensive Team
First Team
Position Player, Team 1st 2nd Points
Center Dwight Howard, Orlando 28 1 57
Guard Rajon Rondo, Boston 23 4 50
Forward LeBron James, Cleveland 20 5 45
Guard Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers 13 8 34
Forward Gerald Wallace, Charlotte 11 8 30
Second Team
Position Player, Team 1st 2nd Points
Center Tim Duncan, San Antonio 8 5 21
Guard Dwyane Wade, Miami 8 4 20
Forward Josh Smith, Atlanta 6 8 20
Forward Anderson Varejao, Cleveland 2 11 15
Guard Thabo Sefolosha, Oklahoma City 3 8 14
Other players receiving votes, with point totals (First Team votes in parentheses):
Jason Kidd, Dallas, 12 (4); Marcus Camby, Portland, 12 (1); Ron Artest, 11 (3); Deron Williams, Utah, 10, (2); Kirk Hinrich, Chicago, 9 (1); Andrew Bogut, Milwaukee, 8; Luc Mbah a Moute, Milwaukee, 8 (1); Arron Afflalo, Denver, 6 (1); Kenyon Martin, Denver, 5 (1); Kevin Garnett, Boston, 5 (1); Grant Hill, Phoenix, 4 (2); Joakim Noah, Chicago, 4; Kendrick Perkins, Boston, 4 (1); Shane Battier, Houston, 4 (1); Andrei Kirilenko, Utah, 3 (1); Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City, 3; Trevor Ariza, Houston, 3 (1); Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia, 2; George Hill, San Antonio, 2 (1); Jermaine ONeal, Miami, 2 (1); Joe Johnson, Atlanta, 2 (1); Lamar Odom, L.A. Lakers, 2 (1); Luis Scola, Houston, 2; Manu Ginobili, San Antonio, 2 (1); Nicolas Batum, Portland, 2; Caron Butler, Dallas, 1; Chauncey Billups, Denver, 1; Jared Dudley, Phoenix, 1; Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City, 1; Raymond Felton, Charlotte, 1; Marc Gasol, Memphis, 1; Pau Gasol, L.A. Lakers, 1; Chuck Hayes, Houston, 1; Brendan Haywood, Dallas, 1; Al Horford, Atlanta, 1; Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City, 1; Ersan Ilyasova, Milwaukee, 1; Stephen Jackson, Charlotte, 1; Nene, Denver, 1; Chris Paul, New Orleans, 1; Tayshaun Prince, Detroit, 1; Earl Watson, Indiana, 1.
Truth-Serum
June 13th, 2010
3:45 pm
Big Ray
June 13th, 2010
10:05 am
Sautee , / azzohola
Yep. The NBA coaches vote the reserves in. Al Horford was voted in by the NBA coaches, who respect his game big time. But I thought everybody knew that…You don’t get to the NBA all-star game by being horrible on defense while playing out of position. I thought everybody knew that as well…
Sautee /azzohola
June 13th, 2010
9:38 am
Truth-serum,
Since you don’t seem able to understand, I’ll try again. The “voting” that I referred to (and that the article in Shaq’s team’s town – Cleveland referred to) was the COACHES vote. by the fans. You keep posting the FAN vote like that matters. The COACHES are the ones who vote ALL the reserves on the All-Star team.
Sautee you have been talking out the side of your neck so long there is slobber on your shoulders. You and ray say al must be good defensively regardless of the numbers because the NBA coaches pick him as a reserve all star. … Those same NBA coaches refused to put him on the All nba defensive team because he is so sorry defensively, in fact he only received 1 lousy vote from all the coaches and guess who vote that was…..The dearly departed Woodson. Every other coach saw no reason to vote for his sorry asse.
The voting panel consisted of the NBA’s 30 head coaches, who were asked to select NBA All-Defensive First and Second Teams by position. Coaches were not permitted to vote for players from their own team. Two points were awarded for a First Team vote and one point was awarded for a Second Team vote.
2009-10 NBA All-Defensive Team
First Team
Position Player, Team 1st 2nd Points
Center Dwight Howard, Orlando 28 1 57
Guard Rajon Rondo, Boston 23 4 50
Forward LeBron James, Cleveland 20 5 45
Guard Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers 13 8 34
Forward Gerald Wallace, Charlotte 11 8 30
Second Team
Position Player, Team 1st 2nd Points
Center Tim Duncan, San Antonio 8 5 21
Guard Dwyane Wade, Miami 8 4 20
Forward Josh Smith, Atlanta 6 8 20
Forward Anderson Varejao, Cleveland 2 11 15
Guard Thabo Sefolosha, Oklahoma City 3 8 14
Other players receiving votes, with point totals (First Team votes in parentheses):
Jason Kidd, Dallas, 12 (4); Marcus Camby, Portland, 12 (1); Ron Artest, 11 (3); Deron Williams, Utah, 10, (2); Kirk Hinrich, Chicago, 9 (1); Andrew Bogut, Milwaukee, 8; Luc Mbah a Moute, Milwaukee, 8 (1); Arron Afflalo, Denver, 6 (1); Kenyon Martin, Denver, 5 (1); Kevin Garnett, Boston, 5 (1); Grant Hill, Phoenix, 4 (2); Joakim Noah, Chicago, 4; Kendrick Perkins, Boston, 4 (1); Shane Battier, Houston, 4 (1); Andrei Kirilenko, Utah, 3 (1); Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City, 3; Trevor Ariza, Houston, 3 (1); Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia, 2; George Hill, San Antonio, 2 (1); Jermaine ONeal, Miami, 2 (1); Joe Johnson, Atlanta, 2 (1); Lamar Odom, L.A. Lakers, 2 (1); Luis Scola, Houston, 2; Manu Ginobili, San Antonio, 2 (1); Nicolas Batum, Portland, 2; Caron Butler, Dallas, 1; Chauncey Billups, Denver, 1; Jared Dudley, Phoenix, 1; Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City, 1; Raymond Felton, Charlotte, 1; Marc Gasol, Memphis, 1; Pau Gasol, L.A. Lakers, 1; Chuck Hayes, Houston, 1; Brendan Haywood, Dallas, 1; Al Horford, Atlanta, 1; Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City, 1; Ersan Ilyasova, Milwaukee, 1; Stephen Jackson, Charlotte, 1; Nene, Denver, 1; Chris Paul, New Orleans, 1; Tayshaun Prince, Detroit, 1; Earl Watson, Indiana, 1.
Joe Mama
June 13th, 2010
4:28 pm
AL college numbers-senior year
2006-2007 FLA 27.8 13.2 9.5 2.2 1.8 1.21 .7 1.8 2.5 .608 .644 .000 1.64
Best year
2009-10ATL8135:06 5.810.55 5.1 0.00.0100.0 2.63.378.9 2.97.09.9 2.31.50.71.12.8 14.2
Career 229
33:17 4.99.252.7 0.00.014.3 2.33.075.3 2.86.99.6 2.11.60.81.13.0 12.0
His best year was 14 pts his college best was 13.2 pts and his career average is ….12.0
What growth?
compare
June 13th, 2010
4:43 pm
Josh Smith #5 PF
2009-10 STATS
PPG RPG BPG
15.7 8.7 2.1
Al Horford #15 C
2009-10 STATS
PPG RPG BPG
14.2 9.9 1.1
Smoove is better
Ken Strickland
June 13th, 2010
9:53 pm
TRUTH SERUM-you should have been a tap dancer or a magician, because you tapped around everything I said, every question I asked, aS well as the obvious meaning of everything I said, and you seem to disappear when faced with obvious facts. I also noticed how you completely ignored SAUTEE when he called you out for blatantly lying about the entire All Star selection process of Horford over Shaq, which, for you, is par for the course.
Your refusal to name a single player on my list of centers that averaged more blocked shots per gm than Horford, means you realize that none of them measured up overall to Horford. My point was to show how blocked shots can be a grossly misleading stat when it comes to evaluating the overall ability and value of a center.
It’s also revealing how you once again made a reference about the Hawks needing to replace AHorford, an All Star, and one of the NBA’s most consistently productive centers. Yet, you conveniently ignored all comments about replacing MBibby, the teams biggest DEF liability, one of the NBA’s least productive PG’s, and definitely the NBA’s worst starting PG’s.
In your delusional backward though process, you feel the only way for the Hawks to improve is to replace a consistently productive All Star center, while continuing to start and give major mins to the NBA’s slowest, least athletic, least productive, and most inconsistent PG, who is also a proven DEF liability, WOW!
jason
June 14th, 2010
12:41 am
i think that it is a good decision by rick sund give the guy his props men he had to make a hard decision because their first option was Avery who already signed with the nets he did what was best
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D.W.
June 14th, 2010
10:05 am
I hope he has the balls to recommend that they get rid of Josh Smith.
JMatt
June 15th, 2010
8:52 pm
This is predictable. Drew will have no more success than Woodson. The Hawks went the cheap route. Clearly, this franchise is not dedicated to building success.
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